THE GOLD WAVE
500 men. 500 Women.
The deepest, fastest amateur marathon in America.
8:40am | 12.20.25
Gold Wave Participants Receive:
- Flat, fast criterium style course
- Great weather (average high of 68 and low of 45)
- Pace groups (in ten-minute increments as necessary from 2:20:00 and above)
- Personal Bottles sponsored by Blank’s Sports Nutrition
- Indoor warmup area
- No long bathroom lines
- No hour-long ride to the start
- Start/Finish in the same spot
- Bag drop-off at the start
- Bag pick-up at the finish
- Opportunity to line up just 15 minutes before the start
- Plenty of room to run
- Family/friends can see you up to 12 times in one spot
- Best swag bag in the business!
Scroll down for full registration process details ⬇
Gold Wave Registration Process:
UPDATED APRIL 1, 2025: Welcome to our second wave of registration for the Gold Wave! All language below has been updated and applies to all athletes who register for the Gold Wave between April 2, 2025, and October 31, 2025.
The Marathon Project Gold Wave will consist of just 1,000 total participants. No more than 500 men and 500 women (and non-binary) will be accepted into the race as selected by race organizers. Based on accepted applicants from our first wave of registration (Dec. 18 - March 31) we strongly encourage anyone who has run under 3:25:00 in the marathon or under 1:40:00 in the half marathon to apply. Comparable times at shorter distances will also be considered.
Rolling Application Process between April 2, 2025, and November 9, 2025: Our race management team will review all registrations and verify times each week. The applicant's status will be determined as soon as that process is complete. As athletes are approved and accepted, their credit card will be charged and they will be officially entered into The Marathon Project. They will receive an email notifying them of their acceptance. Athletes who are not accepted will also be notified via email.
November 10, 2025: Registration closes. The only entry exceptions beyond this date will be reserved for special circumstances.
Refund / Deferment Policy: The Marathon Project does not offer refunds. We do, however, offer a generous deferment policy. If you choose not to race in 2025, for any reason--including pregnancy/postpartum, you may defer your entry to the 2026 edition of The Marathon Project. Deferments are non-transferable and cannot be sold. Each entry is eligible for only one deferment.
FAQ
Why is the entry fee $500?
At The Marathon Project, everyone is a VIP! We understand the desire for athletes of all ability levels to set a PR and we aim to provide all of our participants with that opportunity. Limited fields, indoor warmup areas, pace groups, personal fluids and more provide every Gold Wave competitor with the professional athlete experience. There is a cost to provide all of those things, but we take our responsibility very seriously to make our race worth not only your entry fee, but also all of the hard work you put into training.
Why is the race limited to 1,000 people?
The Marathon Project is a premier event designed to give each participant the best possible chance to set a PR. As such, we need to give you room to run. The limited field allows for this. Also, our criterium-style course features six loops which means late in the race there will be some lapping. We need to keep that to a minimum for both those doing the lapping and those being lapped.
Why are there no age-group awards?
The Marathon Project is not an age-group race. It is an open race with entries based purely on time. As such, awards will be given out to the top 25 men, top 25 women, and top 5 non-binary finishers regardless of age.
What times do you think will get in?
As of April 1, 2025 it looks like athletes (any gender) who have run under 3:25:00 for the marathon or under 1:40:00 for the half marathon are likely to get in. Those times could get faster as the race gets closer to filling up so we encourage everyone to sign up as early as possible.
What is Wild Horse Pass?
Wild Horse Pass is one of Arizona’s premier tourist destinations. Located on the ancient Tribal lands of the Gila River Indian Community, the resort features the Aji Spa, the Kai Restaurant, the Whirlwind Golf Club, the Koli Equestrian Center, the Sheraton Grand and the Gila River Resorts and Casino. For more click HERE.